The Architect’s Eye: The Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma in Helsinki

A round mirror on a zinc wall at the entry where visitors can place their colorful admission stickers when leaving, creating a Damien Hirst–like composition.

3 of 29

The split entry to the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, where two forms converge.

3 of 29

A view from under the overhang at the museum’s entry, looking toward Eliel Saarinen’s Helsinki Central Railway Station.

3 of 29

A Cubist-type architectural configuration at the museum’s entry.

3 of 29

The curvilinear light wall meeting the intersecting geometric forms of the museum.

3 of 29

The end elevation of the light wall.

3 of 29

Looking at an interior staircase from outside of the museum.

3 of 29

A detail of the intersection of geometric shapes, from the museum’s exterior.

3 of 29

The trees’ silhouettes in the late-afternoon sun at 2:45 Helsinki time.

3 of 29

An exterior view of one end of the museum structure.

3 of 29

A detail of the end elevation.

3 of 29

Looking at the roof’s transition from the gallery spaces to the ground.

3 of 29

A detail of the roof’s transition.

3 of 29

A view of the peeled skin of the roof’s transition into the administrative spaces.

3 of 29

A detail of the curved roof.

3 of 29

An exterior view of the administrative spaces.

3 of 29

A ramp that expresses the intersection of the two geometries, inside of the museum.

3 of 29

A detail of the ramp structure, from the top.

3 of 29

Looking down the trapezoidal stairs at the end of the light wall.

3 of 29

A detail of the staircase.

3 of 29

Steven Holl’s custom light design represents the building’s intersection of geometries in a single sconce.

3 of 29

A stairway to the public amenities.

3 of 29

The sunlight from outside the museum bathes the trapezoidal staircase.

3 of 29

At night, light from inside the museum shines through to passersby.

3 of 29

The nighttime light from the dynamic, ever-changing wall reflects off of the snow, illuminating the expanse from Eliel Saarinen’s nearby Helsinki Central Railway Station to Alvar Aalto’s Finlandia Hall.

3 of 29

A view of the interior ramp, seen at night from outside the museum.

3 of 29

A detail of the trees’ silhouettes at night, against the interior light shining through the wall.

3 of 29

During the day the sun illuminates the building; at night the building gives light to its surroundings.